Combined corn shellerand cutter



I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. -I S. LREE. COMBINED CORN SHELLER ANDGUTTER. NO. 443,143.

Patented Deo. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

S. LOREE. COMBINED CORN SHELLBR AND GUTTER.

No. 443,143. Patented Deo. 23, 1890.

i E gigi# E UIIIIHIII j l "i {uumlllllmly 7 T lll? 7 Y Y 1 4 WITNESSESUNITED STATESN PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL LOREE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN LOREE,OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

COMBINED CORN SHELLER AND CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,143, dated December23, 1890.

Application iiled June 26, 1890. Serial No.356,900. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL LREE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined CornShellers and Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Myinvention consists in the improved form of combined corn Sheller andcutter hereinafter to be more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a -side view of the machine. Fig. 2 is aplan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section. Figs. 4, 5, and G aredet-ail views of one of the shellingknives. Figs. 7 and 8 are similarviews of one of the corn-cutting knives. Fig. 9 is a detail side view ofone of the guide-rollers and its support, and Fig. l0 is a plan view ofthe same.

IIeretofore various kinds of cornshelling machines have been devised,but nearly all of them are bulky, and require considerable power to runthem. Various kinds of apparatus have also been designed for cuttingcorn' from the cob when green, for canning and other purposes.

To construct a single and simple machine of small size, which by slightchange of parts can be used either as a corn-Sheller or a corncutter, Ihave devised the construction shown and illustrated, in Which- A is themain frame, which may be attached to the side of a tub or to any otherobject by means of the forked ends ct a and the set-screw B. This frameA is expanded in the form of a ring c1., as shown in Fig. 2, and alsohas a vertical projection in which the beveled driving-Wheel IV, havingthe crankarm K, is journaled.

The main operative portion of the machine consists of the knife-carryingring D, (best shown in Figs. l and 3,) which is mounted on the mainframe by means of the cleats II, which are attached to the ring D by thescrews 7L or in any similar equivalent manner, and which overhang theprojecting ring or ledge a" of the main frame, and thereby act as abearing on said main frame, at the saine time permitting the revolutionof the ring D. There may be three or more of these cleats II; or, ifdesirable, they might be all connected together in one solid ring, aswill be easily understood, without varying the na ture of theconstruction.

On the knife -carrying ring D are cast proper bevel-teeth d, which gearwith those w on the bevel driving-Wheel W'. In said ring are mounted inany suitable manner a number of knives, as N or M, which converge to thecenter and bear against and operate upon the ear of corn. Said knivesare given a suitable inclination all in one direction, so that as theyoperate upon the ear of corn they also draw the cob down or up throughthe machine, according to the Vmanner in which they are set. Mypreferred construction of said knives is clearly illustrated in Figs. ato S, inclusive, where is shown the main shank S of each knife and oneor more guide projections G G', which run in openings in the ring D., asclearly shown in Fig. 3, and prevent the knives from turning.

In the cavity F in the knifecarrying ring and surrounding the shank S ofthe knife is a spiral spring P. This acts against the iiange E on theknife-shank and tends to torce it away toward the center of the machine,the projection of the knife in this Way beyond a certain point beingprevented by an adjustable nut S, affixed at the end of the shank S.

C is a supporting-ring of equal diameter to that of D, and held beneaththe same by means ot' the projection C', which terminates in a suitablefoot and is adjustably and removably held to the main frame A by meansof bolts c c, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This supporting-ring Caffords an additional support for the knife-carrying ring D, and

also carries the guide-rollers'R, of which there are three or moreconverging to the cen ter of the ring and closing on the ear of corn toguide and steady the same in its passage through the machine. Theseguide-rollers may evidently be made in a number of shapes and supportedin any suitable manner. rIhe preferred construction, however, is thatwhich IOO I have illustrated in Figs. 9 and lO, where the rollers R areshown with double flanges r 1" for grasping the ear of corn, and aremounted in a support Q, which has a shank T and guide projections t t.This support Q is mounted in the ring C in a manner similar to that inwhich the knives are mounted in the ring D, as above described. Thespiral springs P act to force the rollers out against the ear of corn.

The mode ot' operation of my invention is evident. It an ear of ripenedcorn is te be shelled, the knives N N N are placed in the machine, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. One end of the ear of corn then being introducedbetween said knives, rotation is given to the ring D by means ot' thecrank and the handle shown. The action ot theknives is to rip thekernels of corn from the cob, and at the same time, on account of theircurvature and inclination, a feed motion is given the ear onward throughthe machine, it being steadied meantime by the guide-rollers R. l'v thetime the ear is passed through the operator has another one ready tointroduce, and the operation of the machine is thereby practicallycontinuous.

When it is desired to cut green corn from the cob, the knives N areremoved and the sharper knives M, of greater curvature, are introducedin their places. Otherwise the operation is the same.

It is evident that numerous changes in the details of construction andarrangement might be made from the above-described apparatus Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, or the principle of operationherein described, such changes being mere mechanical changes stillwithin the scope of my invention.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. ln a corn sheller and cutter, the combination of the main framehaving' a ring portion, the knife-carrying ring mounted and revoluble onsaid frame, the knives mounted in said latter ring, annular frame orring for supporting the knife-carrying ring adjustably attached to themain frame, and gearing for revolving` the same, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a corn sheller and cutter, the combination of the main frame, theknife-carrying ring` mounted and revoluble on said frame,

the knives mounted in said latter ring, annular frame or ringforsupporting the knifecarrying rin adj ustably attached to the mainframe, and gearing for revolving the same, together with theguide-rollers mounted in the supporting-ring, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a corn sheller and cutter, the combination of the main frame, theknife-carrying ring which is mounted and revoluble on said frame andwhich has bevel-teeth cast thereon, the inclined knives mounted in saidring, the annular frame or ring supporting the knifecarryingringremovablyattached to the main frame, and the crank and bevel-gearmounted on said frame and gearing with the abovementioned teeth on theknife-carrying ring, substantially as described.

4. In a corn sheller and cutter, the inclined curved knives, each ofwhich has a threepronged shank, and a spiral spring connected therewith,substantially as described.

5. In a corn sheller and cutter, the combih nation of the main frame,the knife-supporting ring, the inclined curved knives mounted in saidring, having th ree-pronged sh anks, and spiral springs connectedtherewith, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the double-anged roller, the threepronged supportfor the same, the spiral spring, and the ring in which said supports aremounted, substantially as described.

7. In a corn sheller and cutter, the combination ofthe main frame, theknife-carrying ring mounted and revoluble on said frame, the curvedspring-pressed knives mounted in said ring and converging to the centerthereof, the removable annular support for the k nite-carrying ring,gearing for giving rotary motion to the knife-carrying ring, and thedouble-hanged spring-pressed guide-rollers mounted in. the supporting-ring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL LOREE.

Witnesses:

SCOTT BONHAM,

Loris DAY.

